Intraoral traction apparatus



June 11, 1963 H. A. TRAIGER 3,092,907

INTRAORAL TRACTION APPARATUS Filed Feb. 12, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 j INVENTOR.

HARRY A. TRAIGER ATTORNEYS H. A. TRAIGER INTRAORAL TRACTION APPARATUS June 11, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 12, 1960 FIG. 6

INVENTOR.

HARRY A. TRAIGER MM M ATTORNEYS June 11, 1963 H. A. TRAIGER 3,092,907

' INTRAORAL TRACTION APPARATUS Filed Feb. 12, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l O o O FIG. l2 H5 INVENTOR. HARRY A. TRAIGER ATTORNEYS United rates Retest 3,092,997 INTRAGRAL TRACTIGN APPARATUS Harry A. Traiger, 3132 Henry Hudson Rarkway E., New Yorir 63, N.Y. Filed Feb. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 8,439 19 Claims. (Cl. 32-14) This invention relates to orthodontics and, more particularly, to apparatus for correcting malpositions of thesprings or ligatures, serve to reposition the teeth by pro-' ducing a torque force thereupon. In the correction of the size or position of the lower jaw, conventional practice calls for the use of upper and lower arch wires with uch' L/ intermaxillary rubber elastic bands thereupon. conventional methods of treatment are often unsatisfactory because of the necessity of having to fasten bands to the teeth, and because such correction is not usually made until the teeth are more permanently set. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for correcting the position of the teeth and lower jaw which is extremely simple in construction, efficient inuse, and which will overcome the aforementioned difii-' culties.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an orthodontic device which can be installed at a very early age, so as to improve the effectiveness of the treatment.

Still another object of the present invention is to pro-' vide an orthodontic device of the type described in which all of the parts may be completely removed and installed by the patient.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an orthodontic appliance for correcting the position and appearance of the teeth and lower jaw, so as to minimize any psychological eflfects upon the patient.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an intraoral traction device that is capable of producing a gentle and continuous force upon malpositioned teeth and urging such teeth into a corrected position with minimum damage to the bone or gum structure and discomfort to the patient.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an orthodontic device which will accommodate backward movement of the anterior and posterior teeth in the same arch, while stabilizing those of such teeth not momentarily in the process of being positioned by unibody anchorage sections rather than unitized sections, as in braces.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an orthodontic device of the above type that includes a platform which eliminates cuspal interference by teeth in the opposing jaw, so long as the device is worn,

and which thus shortens the time needed for corrections A further object of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple intraoral traction device having a minimum number of parts, and which requires a reduced number of adjustments during the treatment of the malpositioned teeth.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a' study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an X-ray photograph showing the positions of misaligned teeth;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of an intraoral traction device made in accordance with one form of the present invention in actual use.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the device shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of certain parts of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 3 and illustrating another use therefor;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan view of certain parts of the device shown in FIGURE 3, illustrating still another use thereof;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a pair of orthodontic devices made in accordance with the present invention in actual use for correcting 21 malposition of the lower jaw;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of certain parts of the device shown in FIG- URE 1, illustrating a slightly modified form of constructionof certain elements thereof;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, showing a slightly modified form of construction in which the cor rective elements are mounted upon a partial plate;

FIGURE 9 is a View similar to FIGURE 3, showing still another form of the present invention for correcting malpositions of the anterior teeth;

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, showing still another form of construction;

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, showing still another form of construction;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of certain parts of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 10, illustrating a slightly modified form of joined connection; and

FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FIGURE 12 showing still another form of construction.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGURES 1 to 4 thereof, an intraoral traction device 15 made in accordance with one form of the present invention is shown to include a retention body 17 of generally channel shaped, cross-sectional configuration. This retention body is adapted to overlie and at least partially receive within the channelshaped trough 13 thereof, selected anchor teeth of the upper or lower jaw, for correcting malpositioned teeth of the type shown in the X-ray photograph 19 illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The retention body 17 may be shaped to fit the natural undercuts in the teeth so as to be removably mountable thereupon, or may be partially filled with a dental cement formed by removal before setting from lubricated teeth, for detachable support upon the anchor teeth. The surface of the retention body 17 may also be provided with a veneer 20 of artificial teeth so as to enhance its appearance and to lessen the psychological effects upon the patient. At least one end of the retention body 17 is provided with a posterior projectory 28 which is in the form of a substantially U-shaped rigid arch or hook 29, at least a single buccal attachment post, loop or hook 31, and at least a single distal attachment post, loop or hook 3-2, all of which selectively serve as detents for maintaining elastic bands 33 in predetermined corrective tension with selected malpositioned teeth. The ends of the retention body 17 are also provided with lingual attachment posts, loops or hooks 24, as well as buccal attachment posts, loops or hooks 26, which cooperate with the mounting hooks of the posterior projectories.

While the need for orthodontic bands and ligatures has been virtually eliminated by the present structure, in some special instances, it may be necessary to employ the same, such as the orthodontic band 35 shown in FIG URE 2 which encircles a malpositioned tooth Y and supports a hook 36 (see FIG. 3) to which an elastic band 33 is attached. In the arrangement illustrated in FIG- URE 4 of the drawing, an orthodontic band 35 is shown having a mounting hook 38 and encircling an upper tooth. The elastic band 33 is connected at one end to such mounting hook 38 and guided around a guide element 39 of a lower posterior projectory 28, for connection to a buccal mounting post 26 of the lower retention body 17.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the manner in which three malpositioned teeth X, Y, .Z are corrected in accordance with the present invention. One of the teeth X, a mesially drifted molar in buccal cross-bite, is correctively urged by means of the elastic band 33 in the direction of the arrow. Another tooth Y, a molar in lingual cross-bite, is shown ligated with a traotionable agent or band 33 stretched from the lingual aspect of the tooth Y, crossing from hook 36 over the occlusal surface of the tooth and attaching to the buccal attachment loop 31 of the buccal aspect of the upper right posterior projectory 28, such direction of corrective movement of the tooth Y being indicated by the arrow. The other distally drifted bicuspid Z is shown being corrected by a tractionable agent or band 33 that is stretched from the distal surface of the tooth and attaching to the upper left intermaxillary post 26 and the left lingual post 24 of the retention body 17. In all instances, the positions of the elastic band mounting posts or loops are placed upon a level corresponding to the interdental papillae, so as to prevent the tractionable material or elastic band 33 from crawling rootwise and denuding the gum from the tooth. In this respect, the retention body 17 is so dimensioned to cover the natural teeth without impinging upon the gingivae, so as to gain anchor-age from the teeth without damage to the gums.

With reference now to FIGURE of the drawing, a malpositioned tooth 40 is shown being corrected by an elastic band 41 that is attached to the distal surface of the tooth and stretched to an intermaxillary post 26, thus imposing a rotative force upon the tooth. In the event that it is desired only to rotate the tooth without displacing the same, a second elastic band -42 may be used on the diametrically opposite side of the tooth 40 from the point of attachment of the first elastic band 41, to provide a coupling effect. If it is desired to rotate the tooth that is covered by the retention body 17, still another method may be used; the rotated tooths indentation on the underside of the retention body is relieved in the areas in which the tooth is to be moved, while the adjacent surfiace areas of the retention body are built up with a small amount of quick setting dental cement. Additional layers of self curing dental plastic cement may be added from time to time, so as to continuously urge the tooth in a rotational direction until the correction has been completed.

With reference now to FIGURE 6 of the drawing, an

assembly 45 is shown which includes a pair of retention bodies 17, one for each of the upper and lower jaws. This arrangement is used to correct the position of the lower jaw by means of elastic bands 48 that are stretched between the posterior projectory of one of such retention bodies and an interrnaxillary extension 26 of the other one of the retention bodies. The arrangement shown in full lines is used to correct a retruded lower jaw, while the arrangement shown in broken lines is the reverse of the full line arrangement and is used to correct a protruding lower jaw.

FIGURE 7 illustrates an assembly 50 in which the posterior projectory is removable from the retention bodies :17. This posterior projectory is provided with an extension '53 that is slidably received within the longitudi nal bore 52 of a sleeve 51 anchored upon the retention body 17. A ligature 57 is used to maintain the extension 53 in assembly with the sleeve 51 by engaging depending anchor hooks 54, 56 of the extension 53 and sleeve 51,

nuts.

respectively. The posterior projectory is removed from the retention body simply by removing the ligature 57.

Referring now to FIGURE 8 of the drawing, a modiified form of the present invention is shown to include a palatal or lingual bar 60, in the form of a partial plate, such as a removable plastic spring plate, having a plurality of artificial teeth 61 and clips 62 for supporting the bar upon the remaining natural teeth 63 of the jaw. A portion of the bar is provided with an opening 64 through which malpositioned natural teeth 65 extend. This portion of the bar 60 is provided with lingual and buccal hooks 66, 67, and distal anchor hooks 68 which serve as anchors for corrective elastic bands 69 which encircle the malpositioned tooth for urging it into a predetermined direction.

Referring now to FIGURE 9 of the drawing, another form of the present invention is shown to include a device 70 for correcting malpositions of the anterior teeth of the upper or lower jaw. This assembly 70 also includes a labial bar and a palatal or lingual bar 71, respectively, having buccal mounting books 73 and lingual mounting hooks 74 on the opposite sides of an opening. 78 through which the malpositioned teeth 77 project. Elastic bands 76 are thus used to impose the corrective force upon the malpositioned teeth 77 with the retention body 72 anchored to the posterior teeth of the jaw.

In FIGURE 10, still another form of the present invention 80 is shown'to include a retention body 81 of channel shaped configuration with a channel-shaped trough S2, and having spaced apart lingual and buccal hooks 84, 85. Each end of the retention body 81 is provided with'mounting screws 88 which may be used to attach an extension 87 of the retention body, or a posterior projectory in the form of a pair of ribbed arch wires 90, each having lingual and buccal mounting hooks 91, 94. This form of the present invention is more universal and can be more readily adapted to a variety of corrective situations. The elastic bands 92 are used in the manner hereinbefore described to exert a constant pressure upon the malpositioned tooth in order to correct the position thereof.

In FIGURE 11 of the drawing, another form 95 of the present invention is shown to include. a pair of lingual and buccal plates 97, 98, each of which is provided with a set of inwardly directed flanges 100, 101, respectively. The flanges are in overlapping sliding engagement with each other so as to enable the lingual and buccal plates 97, 98 to be moved relative to each other, to vary thus the distance therebetween in order to accommodate any jaw size. The flanges 100 and 101 of the lingual plate 97 and the buccal plate 98 respectively are provided with aligned slots 103 through which adjustment bolts .104 are slidably extended. The bolts are secured on the back of flanges 101 of the buccal plate 98 by means of flat Thus, by loosening and tightening the adjustment bolts 104, the distance between the lingual and buccal plates may be fixed. Each of the lingual and buccal plates is provided with mounting hooks 1G5, 106, respectively, for supporting the elastic bands in tractive engagement with the malpositioned teeth being corrected.

FIGURE 12 illustrates the variation in the mounting of the ribbed arch wires 114 within the longitudinal grooves 112 of the retention body 111. This assembly may be used with arch wires 114 of different lengths, such wires being received within the grooves 112, within which dental cement is also placed. Each such wire may also be provided with a stop element 115 to limit inward movement of the wires along the grooves 112 of the retention body 11 1. Each such arch wire 114 is provided with mounting studs or detents 116 for supporting elastic bands used to correct the position of affected teeth.

In FIGURE 13 of the drawing, each arch wire 120 is shown to slidably support the U-shaped bracket 122 having a self-contained mounting post 123. Each side 124 of each bracket 122 is provided with a longitudinal groove 125 which positions and receives a ligature 126 therewithin. Thus, by moving the bracket 122 to the position desired for the anchor or stud 123, a ligature 126 may be applied to secure the bracket and hook in the selected position along the length of the arch wire 120. Each such bracket may also include a toothward pressure plate to provide for movement of a tooth by pressure and without an orthodontic band.

It will be recognized that the materials used for the parts of the present invention may be any of the materials used for making dental appliances of the kind involved, and that elastic bands of suitable length may be used where required.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the constructions shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An intraoral total traction device comprising, in combination, a retention body having means of attachment to a series grouping of teeth, a posterior projectory carried upon at least one side of said retention body, and traction means carried by at least one of said retention body and posterior projectory respectively for exerting a corrective positioning pressure upon selective malpositioned teeth.

2. An intraoral total traction device comprising, in combination, a retention body for attachment to a selected series grouping of anchor teeth, a veneer of simulated teeth carried upon said retention body and traction means carried by said retention body for exerting a corrective pressure upon malpositioned teeth.

3. An intraoral total traction device comprising, in combination, a retention body having a substantially rigid channel-shaped member for releasably receiving a selected series grouping of anchor teeth therewithin and traction means carried by said retention body for exerting a corrective positioning pressure upon malpositioned teeth, and said traction means being releasable from said rnalpcsitioned teeth, said channel-shaped rnember including a lingual side and a buccal side, and said traction means including a plurality of spaced-apart mounting hooks carried by at least one of said sides of said member, and elastic bands carried by selected ones of said hooks and acting correctively in tension upon said malpositioned teeth.

4. An intraoral total traction device as set forth in claim 3, wherein a releasble means maintains said channel member in overlying and at least partially enveloping relationship with said anchor teeth.

5. An intraoral total traction device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said releasable means comprises portions of said channel member received within undercut portions of said anchor teeth and being slidably releasable therefrom.

6. An intraoral total traction device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said releasable means comprises dental cement.

7. An intraoral total traction device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said traction means also includes cement within said channel-shaped member acting correctively upon selected surfaces supporting malpositioned teeth.

8. An intraoral total traction device comprising, in combination, a retention body having means for releasable supported engagement upon a series grouping of selected anChQI teeth, a posterior projectory carried by at least one end of said retention body, at least said posterior projectory having elastic band receiving detents, and elastic bands extending from predetermined ones of said detents for correctively acting in tension upon selected malpositioned teeth to correct the positions of said malpositioned teeth.

9. An intraoral total traction device as set forth in claim 8, wherein said posterior projectory comprises a rigid wire frame having a lingual side connected to a lingual side of said retention body and a buccal side connected to a buccal side of said retention body.

10. An intraoral total traction device as set forth in claim 9, wherein said detents comprise hooks on said lingual and buccal sides of said retention body and said posterior projectory.

11. An intraoral total traction device as set forth in claim 10, wherein said lingual and buccal supports of said posterior projectory are integrally connected to said retention body.

12. An intraoral total traction device as set forth in claim 10, wherein said lingual and buccal sides of said posterior projector comprise arch wires releasably carried upon said retention body.

13. An intraoral total traction device as set forth in claim 10, wherein said lingual and buccal sides of said posterior projectory comprise arch wires supported in adjustable length relationship upon said retention body.

14. An intraoral total traction device as set forth in claim 10, wherein said hooks comprise brackets adjustably supported upon said retention body.

15. An intraoral total traction device comprising, in combination, a retention body having channeled portions for receiving a series grouping of selected anchor teeth, and other portions of said retention body defining a teeth straddling opening for receiving selected other teeth therewithin, and traction means carried by said other portions of said retention body for correctively acting upon certain of said other teeth.

16. An intraoral total traction device as set forth in claim 15, wherein said traction means comprises detents carried by said other portions of said retention body and elastic bands for acting correctively in tension between selected ones of said detents and said other teeth.

17. An intraoral total traction device as set forth in claim 16, wherein said retention body comprises a partial bridge.

18. An intraoral total traction device comprising, in combination, a maxillary retention body having releasable means for supported engagement upon anchor teeth of an upper jaw, a mandibular retention body having releasable means for supported engagement upon anchor teeth of a lower jaw, and elastic bands acting between one of an anterior and a posterior portion of said maxillary retention body and the other portion of said mandibular retention body.

19. An intraoral total traction device comprising, in combination, a retention body having a buccal side and a lingual side defining a channel for receiving a plurality of teeth of a jaw therewithin, said sides of said retention body having flanges slidably overlapped for adjusting the distance between said sides, and a clamp acting upon said flanges to maintain said sides in predetermined spaced apart relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 473,040 Wilder Apr. 19, 1892. 1,638,006 Aderer Aug. 9, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS 460.7 3 I a y -----,.------,-..-a,--.- D c 13, 59 

1. AN INTRAORAL TOTAL TRACTION DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A RETENTION BODY HAVING MEANS OF ATTACHMENT TO A SERIES GROUPING OF TEETH, A POSTERIOR PROJECTORY CARRIED UPON AT LEAST ONE SIDE OF SAID RETENTION BODY, AND TRACTION MEANS CARRIED BY AT LEAST ONE OF SAID RETENTION BODY AND POSTERIOR PROJECTORY RESPECTIVELY FOR EXERTING A CORRECTIVE POSITIONING PRESSURE UPON SELECTIVE MALPOSITIONED TEETH. 